Garments Finishing Machine and Body Cover Used for Finishing Machine

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to the cleaning machine arranged to the torso  2  wearing the laundry garment  1  and finishing the garment  1  while they are kept put on the torso  2.    
     The width across the shoulders of the torso  2  can be adjusted. 
     This invention is constituted such that the entire shoulder part  3  of the torso  2  ranging from the positions of the shoulders of the torso  2  corresponding to the collars of the garment  1  to the shoulder ends are formed in such a way that it can be slid along the incline direction of each of the shoulder parts  3.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to the garment finishing machine for use infinishing the garment such as blouse or shirts that are the laundrywhile they are kept put on a torso, and more particularly the garmentfinishing machine having a function for adjusting the width across theshoulders of the torso and a body cover used for it.

2. Description of Prior Art

As this type of prior art finishing machine, there has been provided asystem that has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,015 (hereinaftercalled as a patent document 1), for example. This prior art machine isoperated such that a pad attached at the extremity end of the shouldersof the torso advanced or retracted by a cylinder so as to adjust thewidth across the shoulders.

In addition, there has been provided a system described in the gazetteof Japanese Patent No. 2,680,203 (hereinafter called as a patentdocument 2. Its corresponding foreign patents are DE 9,003,467 and GB2,242,691, etc.). This prior art machine was operated in such a way thata central pushing rod of a torso was moved up and down to cause thewidth across the shoulders to be adjusted.

Thus, the prior art machine described in the patent document 1 showed aproblem that a step generated among the shoulders and the pads at theirextremity ends produced some wrinkles at the shoulders of garment.

In addition, the prior art machine described in the patent document 2shows that upon operation of the pushing rod, the shoulders of the torsoare inclined and perform an advancing or retracting operation whileshowing a slight turning. Accordingly, in this case, a certain clearancewas generated among the shoulders of the garment and the shoulders ofthe torso to cause the shoulders of the garment to be hardly fitted tothe shoulders of the torso.

As a result, in accordance with this arrangement, there occurred someproblems that some wrinkles were not prevented from being generated atthe shoulders of the garment and the garment could not be finished neat.

Additionally, the body cover is set at the torso of this type offinishing machine in the prior art could easily produce some loosenessat the shoulder portions of the body cover as the width across theshoulders was adjusted.

Accordingly, in accordance with the prior art machine, there occurred aproblem that this type of looseness could easily produce some wrinklesat the garment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This invention has been proposed in view of the problems found in theprior art.

Accordingly, the technical theme to be solved by this invention is toprovide the garment finishing machine comprising a torso on which thegarment is put and capable of adjusting a width across the shoulders ofthe torso and formed to prevent some wrinkles from being left on thegarment through adjustment of the width across the shoulders and capableof performing a neat finishing of the garment and to provide a bodycover used in this machine.

In order to solve the theme, this invention employs the followingtechnical means.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, this finishing machinecomprises the torso on which the garment is put, wherein a width acrossthe shoulders of the torso is adjustably formed, and has a feature inwhich the entire shoulder parts of the torso ranging from the positionsof the shoulders of the torso corresponding to the collar of the garmentto the shoulder ends is formed in such a way that the shoulder parts canbe slid along the incline direction of each of the shoulder parts.(Claim 1)

In this case, the position of the shoulders of the torso correspondingto the collar of the garment is meaning more practically by a positionof a root of the neck of the torso or a position near the root. Then,the step generated between the sliding shoulder part and the torso canprevent some wrinkles caused by the steps from being formed at theshoulders of garment since the positions of step are correspond to thecollars of the garment,

In addition, as another configuration resolving the theme of thisinvention, there has been provided a system described as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, this invention is the garmentfinishing machine comprising the torso on which the garment is put,wherein the width across the shoulders of the torso is adjustablyformed, and has a feature in which either the entire shoulder parts ofthe torso ranging from the positions of the shoulders of the torsocorresponding to the collar of the garment to the shoulder ends or apart of the shoulder ends side is formed in such a way that the shoulderparts can be slid along the incline direction of each of the shoulders,then a body cover is set at the torso, hooks are hung at both shoulderends of the body cover through tension members, the hooking parts arearranged at supporting positions of the shoulder parts that are locatedfrom the shoulder ends toward inside of the torso, the shoulder ends ofthe body cover are drawn inward with the tension members so as to windaround the shoulder ends of the torso and can be closely fitted to theshoulder ends of the torso. (Claim 2)

In this case, as the tension members, there have been applied coilsprings or rubber straps and the like, for example.

In addition, the body cover of this invention is to be used while beingset at the torso of the garment finishing machine according to Claim 2,wherein the hooks are hung at both shoulder ends through tensionmembers. (Claim 3)

In addition, it is preferable for the garment finishing machine of thisinvention as shown in FIGS. 4 to 11 that an action system for use insliding the shoulder part of the torso, wherein an operating leverturned in a backward or forward direction arranged to be raised in thelower from the front side of the torso, a shaft rod arranged verticallyat the center of the torso in a horizontal direction so as to be turnedin a normal or a reverse direction around a shaft of the verticaldirection under a turning operation of the operating lever, a linkagefor performing simultaneously advance or retract the right and leftshoulder part of the torso through a normal or reversing turning of theshaft rod in a direction where they are moving toward or moving awayfrom each other, and the guiding part for guiding the shoulder partalong the incline direction. (Claim 4)

With this arrangement above, a reason for this system consists in thefact that an operator stands in front of the torso and can easily adjustthe width across the shoulders of the torso under a relaxed posturewhere the operator puts down both hands by using the operating lever.

The finishing machine of this invention is constituted in such a way asdescribed above. Accordingly, in accordance with this invention, sincethe structure for use in adjusting a width across the shoulders of thetorso does not produce any wrinkles at the shoulders of the garment, thegarment can be finished neatly.

In addition, in case of this invention according to Claim 2, it ispossible to get some effects of this invention described in each of theClaims and at the same time it is possible to prevent the body coverfrom being loosened. Accordingly, in accordance with this arrangement,it is possible to prevent some wrinkles caused by the looseness of thebody cover from being generated.

Additionally, as the width across the shoulders of the torso isadjusted, the body cover of this invention correspondingly causes theshoulder ends of the body cover to be closely contacted with theshoulder ends of the torso. Accordingly, in accordance with thisinvention, it is possible to prevent the body cover from being loosened,to prevent some wrinkles caused by the looseness of the body cover frombeing generated and further to finish the garment neatly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an essential perspective view showing a preferable embodimentof the garments finishing machine in the present invention.

FIG. 1B is an essential enlarged perspective view showing a preferableembodiment of the garments finishing machine in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an essential side view showing the body cover.

FIG. 3 is an essential side view showing the garments finishing machine.

FIG. 4 is an essential front view showing the garments finishingmachine.

FIG. 5 is an essential flat view showing from the V-V line in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an essential perspective view showing the garments finishingmachine.

FIG. 7 is an essential side view showing the garments finishing machine.

FIG. 8 is an essential front view showing the garments finishingmachine.

FIG. 9 is an essential flat view showing from the IX-IX line in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an essential longitudinal cross sectional view showing thegarments finishing machine.

FIG. 11 is an essential enlarged sectional view showing from the XI-XIline in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12A is a front view showing the body cover.

FIG. 12B is a right side view showing the body cover.

FIG. 13 is an essential perspective view showing the body cover.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, one preferred embodiment forimplementing this invention will be described as follows.

As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, this invention comprises the torso 2for use in putting on the garment 1, a blouse, for example, wherein thewidth across the shoulders of the torso 2 can be adjusted. The torso 2is formed to imitate with a human trunk.

In this case, this invention is constituted such that the entireshoulder part 3 of the torso 2 ranging from the positions of theshoulders of the torso 2 corresponding to the collars of the garment 1to the shoulder ends are formed in such a way that it can be slid alongthe incline direction of each of the shoulder parts 3. In the case ofthis preferred embodiment, the each of the shoulder part 3 is formed inlength from a position near the root of a neck 2 a of the torso 2 to theshoulder end. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the shoulder part 3 ofthe torso 2 in the preferred embodiment are formed by a metallic plateto have a semi-circular trough shape in its sectional form. Further,several holes 3 a for passing hot air are formed at the metallic plateso as to enable drying of the shoulders at the garment 1 to be promoted.

Action system 4 (refer to FIGS. 4 to 11) is used for sliding theshoulder part 3 of the torso 2. This action system 4 comprises theoperating lever 4 a turned in the backward or forward direction arrangedto be raised in the lower from the front side of the torso 2, the shaftrod 4 b arranged vertically at the center of the torso 2 in thehorizontal direction so as to be turned in the normal or reversedirection around the shaft of the vertical direction under the turningoperation of the operating lever 4 a, the linkage 4 c for performingsimultaneously advance or retract the right and left shoulder part 3 ofthe torso 2 through the normal or reversing turning of the shaft rod 4 bin the direction where they are moving toward or moving away from eachother, and the guiding part 4 d for guiding the shoulder part 3 alongthe incline direction.

The operating lever 4 a in this preferred embodiment is arranged in itsupright state at the right side of the torso 2 in this embodiment. Thelower end of the operating lever 4 a is pivoted to a pair of parallelprotrusion pieces 6 fixed at the base part 5 of the finishing machine bythe horizontal shaft 7.

A motion transmitting rod 8 (refer to FIGS. 5 and 6) is used fortransmitting a motion of the operating lever 4 a to a shaft member 9arranged at the lower part of the torso 2 in a lateral direction. Thefront end of the motion transmitting rod 8 is pivoted to a shaft 10 at aposition slightly upper than the lower end of the operating lever 4 a.Both ends of the shaft 10 are engaged with arcuate guiding slits 6 a ofthe protrusion pieces 6. In addition, a rear end of the motiontransmitting rod 8 is pivoted to the upper end of an upward connectingpart 9 a that is integral with the shaft member 9. With this arrangementas above, when the operating lever 4 a turns for backward or forward,the shaft member 9 turns for backward or forward around its shaftcenter.

Then, the turning of the shaft member 9 is transmitted to the shaft rod4 b through a conversion part 11. The shaft rod 4 b is formed to beturned in a normal direction or reverse direction. The conversion part11 is formed by a rod member 11 a raised up from the shaft member 9 tothe oblique rear toward the shaft rod 4 b side, and a motiontransmitting member 11 b for use in transmitting the motion of the rodmember 11 a to the shaft rod 4 b. The motion transmitting member 11 b isformed by bending a band-like metallic member into a two-folded stateand its both ends are fixed to the shaft rod 4 b. The upper part of therod member 11 a is passed through the motion transmitting member 11 band held by the motion transmitting member 11 b.

Accordingly, when the operating lever 4 a is turned to the backward andthe shaft member 9 is turned in a backward, the rod member 11 a pushesand turns the motion transmitting member 11 b in a counter-clockwisedirection while being slipped down in the motion transmitting member 11b (refer to FIGS. 4 and 5). As a result, the shaft rod 4 b integral withthe motion transmitting member 11 b is turned in a counter-clockwisedirection. Further, the shaft rod 4 b is supported at a fixed plate 12inside the torso 2.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 8 and 9, the linkage 4 c comprises a horizontalplate 13 fixed at its central part to the upper end of the shaft rod 4b, and a pair of right and left thin rod-like members 15 of which innerends passed through from upper side and fixed to the end part of theplate 13 and of which outer ends persuaded through from upper side andfixed to the fixing portions 14 arranged at the inner side of theshoulder part 3, wherein it is formed in an axial symmetry around theshaft rod 4 b. Further, the inner end and the outer end of the rod-likemembers 15 in this preferred embodiment are bent like a hook so as notto be pulled out from the fixed positions. In addition, the fixingportions 14 in this preferred embodiment are formed by plate memberswhich are installed inside of the shoulder part 3 to the paralleldirection to its shorter width.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the guiding parts 4 d have aslit 16 and are formed like a plate. The guiding parts 4 d are arrangedat the incline positions of an upper frame 2 b of the torso 2 oppositeto the lower surfaces of the shoulder part 3. Additionally, the slit 16is formed in a linear shape along the advance or retract direction ofthe shoulder part 3. Then, an engaging shaft 17 is passed through theslit 16. The upper end of the engaging shaft 17 is fixed at the properposition of each of the shoulder part 3. In addition, the engaging shaft17 has a nut 18 fastened at its lower end and when the engaging shaft 17is guided along the slit 16, it is not to be pulled out of the slit.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, this invention isconstituted such that a body cover 19 is set at the torso 2. As shown inFIG. 2 and the like, the body cover 19 has a hook 21 through a tensionmember 20 that is hung at each of both shoulder ends. As the tensionmember 20 in this preferred embodiment, a coil spring is used. Inaddition, the tension member 20 is fixed to the upper central part ofthe shoulder end of the body cover 19. Accordingly, in the case of thispreferred embodiment, it is possible to the shoulder end of the bodycover 19 by the hook 21 pulled inward with a well-balanced from theshoulder end of the shoulder part 3 of the torso 2.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the tension member 20 in this preferredembodiment is fixed to a pair of right and left strings 22. The strings22 are sewn in an arcuate form to the upper portions of the shoulderends of the body cover 19. Accordingly, in accordance with thisarrangement, it is possible that the shoulder ends of the body cover 19is drawn a wide area by using the strings 22 so as to cover perfectlythe shoulder ends of the shoulder part 3.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 10, the hooking part 23 of thehook 21 in this invention is arranged at a supporting position of theshoulder part 3 of the torso 2 that are inside the shoulder ends of thetorso 2. The hooks 21 in this invention are fixed at the hooking parts23, thereby the shoulder ends of the body cover 19 are pulled inward bythe tension members 20 so as to wind around the shoulder ends of thetorso 2.

As shown in FIG. 13, the lower part of the body cover 19 is folded intodouble sewing and a fastening string 19 b is passed through the doublesewing parts 19 a. The plane-like fasteners 19 c is arranged at theproper position of the lower part of the body cover 19

The body cover 19 is fixed to the torso 2 by utilizing the fasteningstring 19 b or plane-like fasteners 19 c.

As shown in FIG. 12, the body cover 19 in this preferred embodiment isformed through sewing of well-porous material 19 d and non-porousmaterial 19 e. The non-porous material 19 e is connected to both sidesof the well-porous material 19 d. Reference numeral 19 f denotes seams.Sides part 19 g of the body cover 19 are formed into sack-shapes withinsertion ends being located its lower position in such a way that theycan be covered from upper part onto the side plates 24 (refer to FIG. 1)raised upright at the sides parts of the torso 2. The body cover 19 inthis preferred embodiment can be set at the torso 2 with the sides part19 g being covered onto the side plates 24. Accordingly, in accordancewith this arrangement, no looseness occurs at the body cover 19.

A pad 25 for use in pressing the side surface of the garment 1 (refer toFIG. 1A). This pad 25 is pushed against the side plate 24. In addition,a pressing member 26 for use in pressing the front of the garment 1.

An action of this invention will be described as follows.

This invention is performed in such a way that an operator adjusts thewidth across the shoulders to the size of the garment 1. The state shownin FIG. 4 corresponds to the case in which the width across shouldersare retracted to adjustment for the garment 1 of smaller size.

More practically, the operator pushes the operating lever 4 a. Then, theshaft member 9 in FIG. 4 turns to the backward and the rod member 11 aturns in the same direction together with the shaft member 9. In thiscase, since the rod member 11 a is inclined toward the shaft rod 4 b, itpushes and turns the motion transmitting member 11 b in acounter-clockwise direction while being slipped down in the motiontransmitting member 11 b.

Accordingly, the shaft rod 4 b in FIG. 4 turns in a counter-clockwisedirection together with the motion transmitting member 11 b. Then, theplate 13 turns in the same direction together with the shaft rod 4 b.With this operation, the rod-like members 15 are pulled inner side fromthe state shown in FIG. 8 to the state shown in FIG. 9 as indicated by adotted line. As a result, the shoulder part 3 of the torso 2 are pulledwhile being slid along the incline directions of the shoulders and thewidth across the shoulders are retracted (refer to the state shown inFIG. 4).

To the contrary, in the case that the width across the shoulders areadvanced, the operator pulls the operating lever 4 a. With thisoperation, the shaft member 9 and the like, act in a reverse directionagainst that of the aforesaid example, resulting in that the shoulderpart 3 are advanced from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the side part.(refer to the state shown in FIG. 8)

Thus, the shoulder ends of the body cover 19 set to the torso 2 arepulled inside or are stretched out action of the shoulder parts 3 whenadvance or retract of the shoulder parts 3.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, the body cover 19 is hitched to thehooking parts 23 inside of the torso 2 by the hooks 21. Since thishooking parts 23 are fixed, when the shoulder parts 3 slide inner sideto the torso 2, for example, the tension members 20 are retracted andrecovered as indicated shown a solid line in FIG. 10. Accordingly, therecovering force of the tension members 20 causes the shoulder ends ofthe body cover 19 to be drawn inward the shoulder parts 3 without anylooseness.

In addition, upon advance of the shoulder parts 3, the tension members20 are extended as indicated by a dotted line in the figure.Accordingly, the recovering force of the tension members 20 causes theshoulder ends of the body cover 19 to wind around the shoulder ends ofthe shoulder part 3 of the torso 2. Accordingly, also in this case, thebody cover 19 does not show any looseness under an action of the tensionmembers 20.

In view of the arrangement, the body cover 19 of this invention may alsobe applicable to a finishing machine in which a part of the shoulder endside of the shoulder part 3 of the torso 2 slides while being inclinedto be enabled to be advanced or retracted. Thus, this is also the samecase that the shoulder ends of the body cover 19 can also be fitted tothe shoulder ends of the shoulder part 3 of the torso 2 under an actionof the tension members 20 in response to the advance or retract movementof the shoulder part 3.

1. The garment finishing machine comprising the torso on which thegarment is put, wherein a width across the shoulders of the torso areadjustably formed, and has a feature in which the entire shoulder partsof the torso ranging from the positions of the shoulders of the torsocorresponding to the collar of the garment to the shoulder ends areformed in such a way that the shoulder part can be slid along theincline direction of each of the shoulder parts.
 2. The garmentfinishing machine comprising the torso on which the garment is put,wherein the width across the shoulders of the torso are adjustablyformed, and has a feature in which either the entire shoulder parts ofthe torso ranging from the positions of the shoulders of the torsocorresponding to the collar of the garment to the shoulder ends or apart of the shoulder ends side are formed in such a way that theshoulder part can be slid along the incline direction of each of theshoulder parts, then a body cover is set at the torso, hooks are hung atboth shoulder ends of the body cover through tension members, thehooking parts are arranged at supporting positions of the shoulder partsthat are located from the shoulder ends toward inside of the torso, theshoulder ends of the body cover are drawn inward with the tension memberso as to wind around the shoulder ends of the torso and can be closelyfitted to the shoulder ends of the torso.
 3. The body cover to be usedwhile being set at the torso of the garment finishing machine accordingto claim 2, wherein the hooks are hung at both shoulder ends throughtension members.
 4. The finishing machine according to claim 1,comprising an action system for use in sliding the shoulder part of thetorso, wherein an operating lever turned in the backward or forwarddirection arranged to be raised in the lower from the front side of thetorso, a shaft rod arranged vertically at the center of the torso in thehorizontal direction so as to be turned in the normal or reversedirection around a shaft of the vertical direction under a turningoperation of the operating lever, a linkage for performingsimultaneously advance or retract the right and left shoulder part ofthe torso through the normal or reversing turning of the shaft rod inthe direction where they are moving-toward or moving-away from eachother, and the guiding part for guiding the shoulder part along theincline direction.